Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALBUKAP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALBUKAP’, particularly characterized by white flowers with purple stripes and purple lip with yellow shade and red stripes, 1 to 2 peduncles, a long and sturdy inflorescence, a narrow obovate leaf shape, and propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Phalaenopsis Blume

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PHALBUKAP’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALBUKAP’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALBUKAP’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique white flowers with purple stripes, economicalpropagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimensionsuitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALBUKAP’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted inBleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALBUKAP’ originated from a cross made in May2001 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Both the female and male parents areunknown Phalaenopsis pot plants. A single plant was selected in May 2004and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by tissue culture inBleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 9-year period. The new variety hasbeen found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALBUKAP’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in April 2009 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firthly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Jan. 15, 2013. ‘PHALBUKAP’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

1) White flower with purple stripes and purple lip with yellow shade andred stripes;

2) 1 to 2 peduncles;

3) Inflorescence is long and sturdy;

4) The shape of the leaf is narrow obovate; and

5) Plants are propagated by tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse inBleiswijk, The Netherlands in March 2013.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALBUKAP’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower of ‘PHALBUKAP’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALBUKAP’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALBUKAP’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in March 2013. Colorreadings were taken under 4000 till 6000 lux natural light in thegreenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Blume.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALBUKAP’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘unknown’.        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘unknown’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—standard type, green leaves            and normal raceme.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—60 cm to 65            cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—31 cm to 36 cm.        -   Vigor.—strong.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—grey-green-colored roots with branching            lateral roots having grey-green-colored root tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 5 to 6 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 18 cm to            22 cm Width: 8 cm to 9 cm Shape: narrow obovate Apex:            mucronate Leaf blade angle with the petiole: Between 40            degrees and 50 degrees Leaf margin: entire Color: Upper            surface: RHS 137 B Lower surface: RHS 138 B Texture: smooth            Thickness: 2.3 mm Venation: Pattern: parallel Color of the            midvein: Upper surface: RHS 137 A Lower surface: RHS 143 C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—10 to 16.        -   Length.—50 cm.        -   Diameter.—about 0.5 cm.        -   Strength.—strong.        -   Aspect.—upright.        -   Texture.—smooth.        -   Color.—brown (RHS 200 A).        -   Internode length.—60 mm to 90 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, raceme            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 80 mm to 100            mm Diameter: 190 mm to 210 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot, as mentioned in the            botanical description.        -   Flower.—Height: 75 mm to 85 mm Diameter: 80 mm to 90 mm            Depth of lip: 24 mm to 26 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 11 to 15 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: open Shape: semi-circular Apex:            mucronate and symmetric Margin: entire and slightly undulate            Length: 55 mm to 58 mm Width: 40 mm to 42 mm Color (when            fully opened): Main color: white with purple stripes (RHS            155 C; 78 A) At the base: white with purple stripes (RHS 155            C; 78 A).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: ovate Length: 43 mm to 45 mm Width: 29            mm to 33 mm Color (when fully opened): Main color: white            with purple stripes (RHS 155 C; 78 A) At the base: white            with purple stripes (RHS 155 C; 78 A).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: ovate Length: 30 mm to 32 mm Width:            42 mm to 44 mm Color (when fully opened): Main color: white            with purple stripes (RHS 155 C; 78 A) At the base: white            with a touch of green and purple stripes (RHS 155 C; 1 C; 78            A).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: entire and slightly undulate Length:            24 mm to 26 mm Width: 23 mm to 24 mm.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: type V Color: purple with yellow and            red shade and red stripes (RHS 78 A; 6 B; 178 C; 60 A).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: obdeltoid Color: dark purple edge with            lighter center and yellow shade (RHS 71 A; 78 A; 6 B).        -   Callus.—Color: orange with red dots (RHS 15 A; 60 A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma as located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 9 mm to 10 mm Diameter: 5 mm to 6 mm Color:            purple (RHS 78 C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2 Size: 1.2 mm to 1.3 mm Color: orange            (RHS 24 A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 9 mm to 10 mm (cutted open) Diameter: 4 mm to            5 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 27 mm to 32 mm Diameter: 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

Presently there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘PHALBUKAP’ can bemeaningfully compared.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALBUKAP’ as shown and described herein.